What strategies have been effective in optimising COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Australia and internationally?

Background: A key public health measure protecting the population from COVID-19 is vaccination. Unvaccinated people have higher COVID-19 case rates and death rates than those who are fully or partially vaccinated. It has, and continues to be, critical to optimise COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the community.

Older people, the digital divide and use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Telehealth and other digital modes of care have been widely introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have enabled access to healthcare while reducing community transmission and keeping patients and practitioners safe. However, the benefits of telehealth are not evenly distributed, and may perpetuate some forms of disadvantage.

Objective: While the 'digital divide' is often understood in socioeconomic terms or geographic terms, the reasons for digital exclusion among older people may vary.

Community-led vaccination programs: Getting the fundamentals right.

In September 2021, South Sudanese Australians in Canberra, ACT, piloted a community-led COVID-19 vaccination program.

COVID-19 and access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for young people: An overview of the international literature and policy.

Background And Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the ability of young people to access appropriate and timely sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH). The aim of this study was to summarise international innovations aimed at ensuring ongoing access.

Method: This study was an overview of peer‑reviewed literature and policy statements from international and national organisations related to SRH for young people during COVID-19.

Digital health to support primary care provision during a global pandemic.

The urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has seen the implementation of digital health technologies to support continuity of high-quality primary care provision. Digital health innovation has been used to operationalise the nation's pandemic preparedness principles by reducing risk of infection to both healthcare workers and at-risk patients, sustaining care for chronic and acute health conditions, and supporting the mental health of the population. In this perspective piece, we document the Australian Federal government's digital health response to ensure the ongoing delivery of high-quality primary care.

What has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about the use of virtual consultations in primary care?

Background: Telehealth has been a very useful resource in primary care consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The aim of this article is to examine primary care providers' (PCPs') and patients' experiences of using video and telephone modalities and their perceptions of the quality of telehealth.

Discussion: Video consultations offer the advantage of enabling visualisation of a patient's visual affect and physical appearance, and they are helpful in building therapeutic relationships.

Ensuring the continuation of routine primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of the international literature.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the diversion of health resources away from routine primary care delivery. This disruption of health services has necessitated new approaches to providing care to ensure continuity.

Objectives: To summarize changes to the provision of routine primary care services during the pandemic.

Protecting Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities From COVID-19: A Rapid Review of International Evidence.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of older people and other individuals who reside in long-term care, creating an urgent need for evidence-based policy that can adequately protect these community members. This study aimed to provide synthesized evidence to support policy decision making.

Design: Rapid narrative review investigating strategies that have prevented or mitigated SARS-CoV-2 transmission in long-term care.